C-1 Nut Plate

[Joe Maulsby]

I removed the "nut plate" (nut for horizontal cowl vent handle bracket bolt)because I am replacing the damaged fiberglass console. The nut plate was held in place with two 3/16" diameter aluminum(?)rivets. I need suggestions on replacing the rivets. Can I purchase similar rivets? If so, where? It would be easy to re-fasten the nut plate using small bolts and nuts, but don't want to do so.

[Joe L.]

Re: C-1 Nut Plate

Joe-----

You can purchase the original style, DEAD SOFT, aluminum rivets from Dr. Rebuild. Others may carry them, too, but I KNOW that his are of the dead-soft variety. This is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. You will want the 53-62 style, round head rivets.

The problem with the rivets is, of course, setting them. This will be a 2 person operation, with one person backing up the head of the rivet and the other flattening the post section with an impact gun or other manual tool. If you don't get the dead soft variety rivets, you may find that setting them is impossible with any tool short of a jack hammer. Jack hammers will do a lot of "collateral damage" to the fiberglass, so you want to avoid the necessity to use them for rivetting operations.